World-class art in Venice

From Titian to Tiepolo, the Accademia’s world-class collection represents the Golden Age of Venetian painting. A dazzling collection of masterpieces but also a voyage through the history of Venice itself.

Venice’s 400-odd historic scuole (schools) were established partly as religious institutions, partly as guilds. The six most powerful ‘Scuole Grandi’ commissioned the great artists of the day to beautify their headquarters, where today the artworks are still intact.

Of all Venice’s many churches, the huge, Franciscan barn-like Frari (1338-1469) is one of the most art-packed. It boasts the second-highest bell tower in the city and a severe exterior, but once inside, the quality of the art is extraordinary.

Way off-piste in northern Cannaregio, Madonna ‘of the Garden’ (1399-1473) is stuffed with paintings by the great Venetian master who is also buried here along with his son and daughter. A highlight is his beautiful painting of St. Agnes in the Contarini Chapel.

Magnificently located at the entrance to the Grand Canal, this vast pale – and unique – church was built in honour of St. Mary of Health in thanks for deliverance from the plague of 1630-31. The best artworks are in the Sacristy, most notably Tintoretto’s Marriage at Cana.

The little-visited Palazzo Grimani is one of the city’s great Renaissance palazzos, now a museum housing an extraordinary collection of classical sculptures, stuccoes, elaborate frescoes and paintings by Hieronymus Bosch.

American millionairess collector Peggy Guggenheim’s glittering display of avant-garde art is housed in her own 18th-century palazzo on the Grand Canal.

Japanese superstar architect Tadao Ando was brought in to convert Venice’s 17th-century customs house on the tip of Dorsoduro and 18th-century Palazzo Grassi into stunning exhibition spaces to house French billionaire businessman Francois Pinault’s vast contemporary art collection.

Weird-and-wonderful artworks and extraordinary architectural projects transform Venice into a surreal, ancient-meets-modern galaxy of contemporary culture for the summer months.

Discover the incomparable art and architecture of Venice on a private walking tour with your very own guide. You'll focus on areas of architectural and artistic richness away from the well-trodden pathways and enjoy personalized attention on your private walking tour. Here's proof there's so much more to Venice than St. Mark's Square!

Our exclusive (very) small-group walking tour guided by a professional and expert history and cultural guide will give you a comprehensive and pleasant introduction to the art, the history, and the amazing local food & wine scene at once, in a fun informative and tasteful way like no other tour. Should you fell to make your Venetian experience even more complete, add our half hour Gondola Ride for a romantic, special and unexpected views of the city from its founding element, water. Culture is made of art, history, tradition and flavours. These are the real souls of Venice, a unique city like no other. Wander through the cobbled streets and over the bridge of Venice Discover the stunning buildings that make up St. Mark’s Square Sip a traditional venetian spritz Admire the iconic Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal Take a half-hour gondola ride and see the city from a different perspective

Crammed with picturesque canals, Renaissance palazzos and artistic masterpieces, this unique and alluring city is heaven-on-earth for art lovers and romantics.

The top cities and regions for world-class art museums and cutting-edge galleries. A feast for art lovers, and home to the masterpieces everyone should see.